Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a gastroenterological disease. Its most prominent symptom is an inflamed liver. Depending on the cause of the disease, the treatment options and long-term prognosis can vary.

Symptoms

A person suffering from hepatitis will generally experience fever, joint pain, abdominal cramping, vomiting, discolored urine, a loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes and skin and a state of dulled consciousness.

It’s possible to have hepatitis but not show any of these symptoms. In some cases, the liver must become significantly damaged before symptoms arise.

Types

There are a number of different types of hepatitis. Most are caused b ... (more)

Hepatitis is a gastroenterological disease. Its most prominent symptom is an inflamed liver. Depending on the cause of the disease, the treatment options and long-term prognosis can vary.

Symptoms

A person suffering from hepatitis will generally experience fever, joint pain, abdominal cramping, vomiting, discolored urine, a loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes and skin and a state of dulled consciousness.

It’s possible to have hepatitis but not show any of these symptoms. In some cases, the liver must become significantly damaged before symptoms arise.

Types

There are a number of different types of hepatitis. Most are caused by a viral infection. The different types are:

Hepatitis A – transmitted by fecal matter entering the mouth, i.e. in a contaminated drink

Hepatitis B – caused by a hepadnavirus; can be both acute and chronic

Hepatitis C – transmitted by blood (including sexual contact where blood mixes)

Hepatitis E – similar to A

Hepatitis F – once thought to exist, but now disproved

Hepatitis G – not fully understood, but likely transmitted by blood

Alcohol-Induced Hepatitis

The ethanol found in most liquor can cause hepatitis. If you consume a great deal of alcohol (as alcoholics do), the liver can experience trauma. Depending on how badly-damaged it is, the symptoms can be the same as severe hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis is not the same as cirrhosis.

Drug-Induced Hepatitis

A number of drugs, including some over-the-counter medications, can cause hepatitis. These include:

Halothane

Methyldopa

Phenytoin

Zidovudine

Ketoconazol

Ibuprofen

Amitriptyline

Nitrofurantoin

Hormonal contraceptives

Certain herbs and dietary supplements

Traveling and Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a concern for many people who are traveling to Mexico or nations in central or South America. Something as innocent-looking as an ice cube could be contaminated. Get the facts before you travel. Hepatitis immunizations are available. Talk to your doctor about how to protect yourself.


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Hepatitis Hepatitis a Vaccine Hepatitis E Viral Hepatitis Hepatite Autoimune Hepatitis D

Hepatitis Symptoms Hepatitis B Symptom Hepatitis C Hepatitis B Hepatitis a Symptom of Hepatitis

Hepatitis C Symptom Hepatitis C Treatment Hepatitis B Virus Hepatitis B Treatment Hepatitis C Virus Hepatitis a Virus

Hepatitis?
what is hepatitis and how does it spread? What forms of hepatitis exist and what are complications of untreated hepatis?

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What is the difference between hepatitis c and hepatitis b?

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